Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced plans to expand the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, increasing its production capacity from 5,000MW to 7,260MW. This expansion aims to raise the share of clean energy in Dubai's energy mix from 27% to 34% by 2030.
Currently, the solar park has a production capacity of 3,460MW, with an additional 1,200MW under construction. The upcoming seventh phase of the solar park, with a capacity of 1,600MW, will contribute significantly to this expansion. It is scheduled to become operational in stages between 2027 and 2029.
The new phase will use photovoltaic solar panels and a battery energy storage system with a capacity of 1,000MW for six hours, providing a total storage capacity of 6,000 megawatt-hours (MWh). This solar-plus-storage project is set to become one of the world's largest, showcasing an innovative and sustainable approach to power generation.
DEWA has invited international developers or consortia to submit their expressions of interest by 21 March 2025. The utility company aims to leverage the latest advancements in solar energy and storage technology to mitigate solar intermittency and set a replicable model for sustainable power.
In addition to environmental benefits, such as reducing carbon dioxide emissions from 6.5 million tonnes to approximately 8 million tonnes annually, this expansion reinforces Dubai's commitment to becoming a global hub for sustainability and innovation in renewable energy. The incorporation of battery energy storage systems is seen as a cost-effective solution that not only improves energy storage but also optimizes land use, making renewable energy more efficient and reliable.
